Chapter 20: Tang Beng
The absorption effect of Spiritual Energy is significantly better, and it can subtly purify impurities in the body, enhancing physical constitution.
From the perspective of cultivation improvement alone, it’s almost catching up to Spiritual Energy Amplification Fluid.
The key is that this external boost doesn’t conflict with drug amplification at all; the two can be used together completely.
“No wonder it’s Pangu the Great God’s eyelash—it’s truly awesome!”
The only drawback is that it has no combat capability, unlike other Plant Element Scroll Paintings that can actively attack enemies.
But with the Laurel Tree’s prestige, even just standing there is a powerful deterrent.
“If I set up a cultivation club with this, wouldn’t it be four or five thousand per person per hour?”
Any Scroll Painting that can amplify cultivation speed is a core resource and money tree for various factions and families.
Those cultivation clubs on the market charge two or three thousand per hour at the very least, and the special Scroll Paintings inside are all 【Rubbings】.
Even so, some premium cultivation clubs require advance reservations for spots.
The birth of the Laurel Tree has undoubtedly saved him a huge sum of money.
Most importantly, the Scroll Painting itself counts as an asset and wealth, directly returning a big breath of Aura of Wealth to the God of Wealth, and even the Painted Spirit Level shows signs of breaking through to Three-Star.
Of course, Wu Xian isn’t foolish enough to start a club with the 【Laurel Tree】 right now to make money.
Good things should be kept for his own use first.
Once he has a certain level of strength and self-protection ability, he can then consider that kind of business, outsourcing a few Instances and becoming a hands-off shopkeeper to collect his share.
“What a fine Spiritual Plant Scroll Painting!”
Old Master Wu Mingchang had appeared at the door at some point, staring at the Laurel Tree and exclaiming repeatedly.
Wu Xian wasn’t surprised by this.
The Laurel Tree’s effect range extends beyond just this one Room; the Old Master had clearly sensed the anomaly in Spiritual Energy.
“You’re just in time. The Spiritual Energy transformed by this Laurel Tree is extremely profound and should allow you to recover your Cultivation Level even faster.”
The Old Master then said meaningfully, “It’s not just Cultivation Level—it seems to have a subtle repairing effect on my memory trauma as well.”
“Is that so? That’s even better.”
They spent the night cultivating under the nourishment of the Laurel Tree.
The next day, he felt refreshed and clear-headed, with no trace of drowsiness, as if he wouldn’t need to sleep at all in the future.
After leaving him a set of physical training tasks, the Old Master drove off in the Janky Car to wander around the world.
After completing the physical training, Wu Xian buried himself in studying and research.
Over the next few days, he had fully mastered the Mechanical System Scroll Painting materials provided by the Tang Family, but mastery doesn’t equal proficiency—there’s still a long way to go before fully comprehending Mechanical Principles construction.
The floor was littered with scrap paper covered in various versions of Optimus Prime.
Once finalized, he began mixing Pigments while testing and verifying on Practice Drawing Paper.
But creating Brother Pillar was clearly no easy task.
One sheet of Practice Drawing Paper after another failed.
“Is it my problem, or the Mechanical Principles construction?”
His Artistic Skill level was definitely not the issue; the Scroll Painting Concept was also absolutely perfect.
So the problem must lie in the Mechanical Principles construction.
As mentioned before, the Mechanical System Scroll Painters of this world overemphasize Mechanical Principles construction, neglecting the temperature and soul of machines.
The Tang Family’s foundational Teaching Material naturally had the same issue.
Therefore, to create a Brother Pillar with “temperature,” he couldn’t follow this theory completely.
In the process of exploration and verification, time unknowingly reached the afternoon.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The knocking interrupted Wu Xian’s thought process.
Opening the door, he saw it was Tang Beng, that Young Master from the Tang Family.
“Little Brother, we meet again.”
Tang Beng was as polished as ever, with a refined and elegant demeanor, the air of a graceful Young Master.
Wu Xian was baffled. “Didn’t Classmate Tang Tiaotiao come with you?”
“Tiaotiao is buried in Scroll Painting research, and my father has been incredibly busy lately,” Tang Beng said with a helpless expression. “So he had to send me instead.”
After inviting Tang Beng inside, he asked in confusion, “May I ask what brings Brother Tang here?”
“Tiaotiao said you used that two million to create two Scroll Paintings on your own?”
Tang Beng got straight to the point, his eyes showing a hint of disbelief.
“Good luck—I luckily drew two Scroll Paintings. Sorry to trouble Brother Tang.” Wu Xian realized.
“Are those the two on the door?” Tang Beng pointed to the Chicken King and Guardian Tiger pasted on the door, nodding appreciatively. “They look like they have some combat power, and the Artistic Skill is pretty good.”
Wu Xian neither confirmed nor denied. “Brother Tang flatters me.”
Tang Beng nodded with a smile; his attitude toward Wu Xian had clearly improved a lot.
Who would have thought that the “Aquarius” poor kid from back then actually had real talent in Scroll Painting.
Though it was still unclear just how high this “talent” was, investing early couldn’t hurt—at least from that 【Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine】 from Little Sister, the kid’s Scroll Painting Concept showed some potential.
“My father and Little Sister’s intention is to provide you with some support and funding going forward, so you can go further on the Scroll Painter Path without being buried,” Tang Beng smiled.
“Uh,” Wu Xian shook his head speechlessly. “Please tell Classmate Tang and Uncle Tang that I appreciate the kind offer.”
“Why?” Tang Beng was puzzled.
“I know my own weight,” Wu Xian said humbly. “Being a half Spirit Tamer half Scroll Painter, messing around on my own is fine, but I can’t bear the Tang Family’s funding and nurturing.”
Joking aside, was funding and support free?
This was a huge favor.
His words raised Tang Beng’s evaluation of him even higher—he was at least a decent, honest young man.
To be fair, Little Sister did have an eye for henchmen.
“You’re overthinking it, Little Brother,” Tang Beng laughed. “With my Tang Family’s ability, providing you some level of support is no pressure.”
“I’ll pass on the funding,” Wu Xian declined again. “But if there’s a chance in the future, we could cooperate with your Company.”
“Cooperation?” Tang Beng was taken aback, then realized. “Sure, just come to me or Tiaotiao then.”
A more dignified form of funding? The kid had some pride.
In their casual chat, their relationship clearly grew closer.
“Huh, what’s this? A draft for Mechanical Scroll Painting Concept?” Tang Beng picked up a handsome close-up of Brother Pillar from the corner and analyzed it. “The design is pretty cool, but why no weapons? At least add some cannons to the body?”
“Just a bored concept sketch. I hope Brother Tang gives more pointers in the future.”
Wu Xian chuckled inwardly, not explaining further.
“Humanoid Machines are cooler and more aesthetically pleasing, but the more humanoid, the more it limits ability and performance,” Tang Beng began on-the-spot teaching to guide the newbie. “Also, Humanoid Machines are the trickiest to draw, especially the Energy System construction and setup—very complex. I suggest starting with the most basic civilian Mechanical Appliances.”
“Good.” Wu Xian nodded obediently, looking enlightened.
Tang Beng nodded happily, appreciating and satisfied with this humble, eager-to-learn little brother. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can WeChat me.”
He then got up to say goodbye and leave.
To be fair, though the siblings had completely different personalities, they were alike in their love for “showing off.”
He continued researching Mechanical Principles construction with “temperature.”
There was still no substantial progress.
After all, a machine’s “temperature” and “soul” were very metaphysical things.
“Uh, it’s all gone?”
Unknowingly, the scrap materials and Mechanical materials in hand had been used up.
He immediately called Zhao He: “Hey~ Brother Zhao, when are you coming to sell scrap? I’m out of stock here.”
“Don’t even mention it,” Zhao He sighed long on the other end. “My boys got bullied by Zhang Mazi’s gang and can barely hang on anymore. We’re at the clinic getting casts right now—ow… hiss… gentle, angel sister!”
“Didn’t Blondie get a loan for Ice Spray? How are you still losing the competition?” Wu Xian couldn’t comprehend.
